Relay



Get my w49 G. M. STAPLETN 2,484,35

RELAY Filed Dec. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Oct. lll, 1949 RELAY George M. Stapleton, Sea Cliff, N.

Y., asslgnor to Ward Leonard Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 22, 1945, Serial No. 637,055

v6 Claims.

This invention relates to electric controlling apparatus and particularly to relays for avoiding the effects of mechanical shocks or jars and for avoiding any movement of the parts when the relay is in its attracted position and when in the unattracted position. Thus disturbance of the |relay from its proper position is avoided and this desirable result is accomplished regardless of the direction, frequency or magnitude of the mechanical shocks.

The main object of the invention is to avoid disturbance of the relay from its proper position when subjected to mechanical shocks or jars of any character. Another object is to provide a structure which may be readily assembled and disassembled and in which a number of the parts are duplicates or substantial duplicates for simplicity in manufacture and in requiring only a small number of dies for the making of the parts. A further object is to make provision for the control of a number of different circuits, or for circuitsv with a plurality of make and break contacts connected in series with each other. Another object is to protectively house the make and break contacts for reducing the arcing and for avoiding tampering by the user. Other objects and advantages will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment.

F'ig. 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2 is a side view; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan view; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 'I is a vertical section of a portion of the relay on the line 'l--T of Fig. 5.

The proof against shocks is based upon the principle of interlocking the movable parts of the relay in such a manner' that under any impact the tendency of any parts to move is counteracted by an opposing tendency of other corresponding parts which maintains the parts at rest. Also, members are used which are non-reversible in movement which aids in preventing improper movement when the forces acting on the parts are unbalanced. On the other hand, in controlling the actuation of the relay to its attracted or to'its unattracted position the movement of all the parts cooperates to assist each other.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the relay is adapted to be supported on a panel by a pair of sheet steel plates I0, each of which is bent at right-angles to provide forwardly extending portions Illa of hollow rectangular shape. These portions serve to clamp between them the iixed laminae Il of the magnet frame as Well shown in Fig. 6. The laminae have the same form as the clamping portions of the frame except at the upper and lower central parts where space is provided to receive the upper and lower laminated plungers l2 of rectangular cross-section. The central passage for the plungers is lined throughout its length by a pair of oppositely disposed thin metal strips I3 for guiding the plungers. The opposite edges |3a of each strip along its length are turned inwardly to form channels for gulding the plungers, as shown in Fig. 6; and the ends l3b of each strip are turned outwardly and again turned at right-angles for holding them in place, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The solenoid coil or winding M surrounds the plunger and is within the magnet frame. It is interposed between a pair of insulating disks l5 and is iirmly held in position by a pair of locking leaf springs i6 positioned between the lower disk l5 and the lower portions of the magnet frame.

In the drawings the parts are shown in their unattracted positions. Fig. 3 shows the inner ends of the two plungers spaced from each other. The plungers are drawn toward each other upon excitation of the magnet winding. The outer end of each plunger carries a helical gear formed on the exterior surface of a cylindrical block I 1 which may be made of moulded material. The block is hollow at its outer end and is secured to the end of its plunger by a central screw I8. The block has an inner extension lla which ts over the rectangular end of its plunger. A spring i9 interposed between each gear ,block and a xed support, biases each plunger outwardly.

A fixed contact housing is provided at the upper'and lower portions of the relay, each housing being similar to the other. Each housing is formed of an inner head 20 and an outer head 2| formed of moulded insulating material. The heads 20 and 2l are secured to each other by a pair of through screw bolts 22 at diagonally opposite corners; and the united heads are fixed to the magnet frame by a pair of screw bolts 23 which pass through an external metal cross strip 24 and through the heads into the laminae of the magnet frame by a threaded engagement. The inner head 20 has a central opening for the passage of the plunger and is hollowed out on its outer surface for reception of the spring I9 and.

the gear block I1 in its inward movement. The in ner face of the head 20 is recessed crosswise to form a slot in which is secured a metal cross piece 20a as shown in Fig. 1. This cross piece is enlarged at the middle portion as shown in Fig. 3 and has a central rectangular opening which ts around the plunger l2. It serves as a guide for the plunger and prevents the plunger from any appreciable turning movement. The inner end of the spring i9 seats against this cross plate 2Da. In recessed portions of the head 20 near the diagonally opposite corner portions, as shown in Fig. 5, are mounted terminals of `copper or brass strips having circumferentially extending inner ends carrying fixed contacts 25a. The terminals are bent inwardly over the outside edge of the head for reception of screws 25h for forming connection to the outside controlled circuit or circuits. The terminals are xed in position by screw bolts 26 which pass through the head from the inner face and have a threaded engagement with the terminals respectively. The outer heads 2i are similar to the inner heads and have similarly formed terminals 21 with terminal screws 2lb. They are mounted opposite the terminals 25 and similarly held in place by screw bolts 26 as shown in Fig. 7. Thus there are two pairs of terminals in each upper and lower portion of the relay and each pair has two oppositely positioned contacts spaced from each other adapted to be bridged by movable contacts respectively.

Each outer head 2l has a central opening for the reception of a metal tube 28 having an outwardly extending iiange 28a at its inner end, as shown in Fig. 3. 'Ihe outer end of this tube has a bearing surface on the inner face of the cross piece 24. The tube is journaled on a bearing bolt 29 having a screw head at its inner end for holding the tube in place. The outer end of the shank of the bolt 29 firmly engages the inner face of the strip 24 and affords sufficient clearance for the free rotation of the tube 28 on the bolt. The reduced end of the bolt has a threaded engagement with the strip 24 and is locked by an acorn nut 30 on the outside of the strip.

The outer portion of the ilange or disk 28a of the tube 28 has secured thereto by the screws 3l a cylinder 32 having internal helical gear teeth which mesh with the corresponding gear teeth of the block I1. This internal cylindrical gear may be formed of moulded material. It is apparent that when the plungers are drawn within the magnet coil, the gears 32 at each end porton of the relay will be rotated on their bearing bolts through a predetermined angle in view of the fact that the plungers cannot turn. Also, the inclination of the helical gears at the two ends of the relay is such that when the plungers move inwardly toward each other, the gears 32 are rotated in the same direction and, of course, when the plungers move outwardly from each other, the two gears 32 rotate together in the reverse direction.

Each gear element 32 has formed therewith portions 32a extending outwardly on opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 5. They serve to carry the movable contacts and also carry a part of the interlocking mechanism. As to the movable contact assembly, one is mounted diametrically opposite the other on the side faces of the extensions 32a opposite each pair of iixed contacts. As shown in Fig. 3 and more particularly in Fig. '1, a conducting contact bridge piece 33 carries the contacts 33a at its upper and lower portions which contacts face the iixed contacts 25a and 21a. A pin 34 extends rearwardly into a hole in the extension 32a. A spring 35 encircles the pin and is seated in a recess in the extension 32a and is seated at its front end against the bridge 33 for biasing the bridge towards the fixed contacts. The bridge is prevented from turning by being sil) seated within a small vertical slot formed in the extension 32a. The pin 34 is fixed at one end to a metal cross piece 3l positioned in front of the contact bridge for retaining it in place, this cross piece, as shown in Fig.A 3, being tixed at one end in a notch in the extension 22a and fastened by a screw 36a at its other end. When the gears 32 are turned, it forces the contact bridges and their contacts against their respective fixed contacts i or making a direct connection between each pair of fixed contacts. In this movement the biasing springs 35 are compressed and balanced pressurev is imposed on the contacts by their selfadjustment.

The interlocking of the movable parts for avoiding displacement under mechanical shocks will now be described. In the periphery of each extension 32a is inserted a metal gear segment 31 with its teeth projecting somewhat beyond the extension. This segment is moulded in place and held by rivets 31a as shown in Fig. 7. Each gear segment meshes with a pinion 38. Each pinion is xed to a small shaft or pin 39 which is journaled at opposite sides of the pinion in bearing sleeves held friction tight in the heads 20 and 2| respectively. The inner end of each shaft 39 is squared. The diagonally opposite shafts 3S of the upper housing heads are opposite the similarly disposed shafts 39 of the lower housing heads; and the upper shafts are coupled respectively with the lower shafts by the interlocking links or tubes 40. Each of these two tubes, or interlocking elements, are squared internally at their ends and t over the squared ends of the shafts 39.

Upon excitation of the magnet winding the two plungers move inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 which, as already explained, turn the upper and lower movable contact assemblies in the same direction as each other in planes perpendicular to the axis of the winding. In this movement the interlocking coupling by the segmental gears 3l, pinions 3l and connecting elcments l0 permits this action because the parts cooperate in corresponding directions of movement. Upon deenergization of the magnet winding the biasing springs I! return the parts to the positions shown in the drawings. Now assume that the relay is subjected to a mechanical shock that would tend to move one or both of the plungers from the position shown and close momentarily certain of the contacts when they are supposed to stay open. Such improper action is prevented by the previously described interlocking of the parts. If the force applied to the relay, or a vertical component of a force, were in a downward direction, the lower plunger would tend to move upwardly and tend to turn the lower movable contact assembly in a direction to close its contacts. However, the interlocking of the lower contact assembly with the upper contact assembly would prevent such movement because the upper contact assembly remains stationary; and the shock on the upper plunger tends to move it upwardly which exerts a restraining force on the upper contact assembly opposing any movement thereof. That is, the shock on the plungers tending to move them in the same direction would result in a tendency to move the upper and lower movable contact assemblies in opposite directions to each other and thereby lock the parts against any appreciable movement. I! the applied shock or vertical component of a shock, were in an upward direction the reverse application of forces on the parts takes place resulting in the prevention of the closing of the relay. Similarly if the relay be in the closed position, any force tending to move the plungers up or down to disturb any of the contacts from their closed position,

would result in the attempted movement of one plunger being opposed by that of theI other because the movement of the plungers in the same direction causes the force of one plunger to be opposed by the force of the other through the interlocking connection. Also,l any force in a sidewise direction, or horizontal component of a force, would not disturb the parts from their open or closed positions because all movable parts are symmetrical with reference to the vertical axis and balanced. Also, any unbalanced force or jar tending to turn either of the contact assemblies would have no eiect because, owing to the inclination of the helical gears, their movement is non-reversible. Thus regardless of the character or direction of the force or forces to which the relay may be subjected, there is no appreciable movement of the parts or disturbance oi the relay from its open or closed position.

Although the relay hasl been described as being 'moved to close circuit connections when the magnet winding is energized, it is obvious that when desired the contacts could be closed under the deenergized condition of therelay and opened when the relay is energized. Also, instead of opening and closing contacts, the relay when desired could control merely the mechanical actuation of parts, or have a combined control of mechanical and electrical actions.

It will be understood that this invention may be embodied in various forms of structure and relationship of parts for adaptation to particular requirements without departing from the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A relay comprising a solenoid winding and two opposite non-rotatable plungers actuated toward each other upon excitation of said winding, a helical gear secured to the outer end of each of said plungers respectively, a second helical gear in mesh with each of said rst named gears respectively and'rotatable in planes perpendicular to the axis of said winding, controlling means actuated by each of said second helical gears, additional gearing actuated by each of said second helical gears respectively, and interlocking connecting means between said additional gearing for locking said plungers against movement under mechanical shocks.

2. Controlling apparatus comprising an electromagnet having a solenoid winding and two non-rotatable magnetic plungers actuated in opposite directions to each other upon excitation of said winding, controlling means rotatable about the axis of said winding in planes perpendicular to the axis of said winding and respectively located opposite the ends of said f'winding and respectively actuated by the movement o! said plungers, and means connected between said rotatable controlling means for locking said plungers against movement under mechanical shocks tending to move said plungers in the same direction as each other.

3. Controlling apparatus comprising an electromagnet having a solenoid winding and two non-rotatable magnetic plungers actuated in opposite directions to each other upon excitation of said winding, controlling means' rotatable about the axis rof said winding in planes perpen- 'dicular to the axis of said winding and respectively located opposite the ends of said winding and respectively actuated in the same direction as each other by the said movement of said plungers, and means connected between said rotatable controlling' means for locking said rotatable means against movement in the reverse direction to each other under mechanical shocks tending to move said plungers in the same direction as each other.

4. Controlling apparatus comprising an electromagnet having a solenoid winding and two non-rotatable magnetic plungers actuated in opposite directions to each other upon excitation of said winding, controlling means rotatable about the axis of said winding in planes perpendicular to the axis of said winding and respectively located opposite the ends of said winding and respectively actuated by the movement of said plungers, and gearing connected between said rotatable controlling means for locking said plungers against movement under mechanical shocks tending to move said plungers in the same direction as each other.

5. Controlling apparatus comprising an electromagnet having a solenoid winding and two non-rotatable magnetic plungers actuated in opposite directions to each other upon excitation of said winding, controlling means rotatable about the axis of said winding in planes perpendicular tothe axis of said winding and respectively located opposite the ends of said winding and respectively actuated by the movement of said plungers, a gear actuated by each of said rotatable means respectively, and means connected between said gears for locking said rotatable means against movement under mechanical shocks tending to move said plungers in the same direction as each other.

6. Controlling apparatus comprising an electromagnet having a solenoid winding and two non-rotatable magnetic plungers actuated in opposite directions to each other upon excitation of said winding, a housing located oppositeA each end of said .winding respectively, xed contacts supported within each of said housings respectively, rotatable controlling means within each of said housings respectively and rotatable about the axis of said winding in planes perpendicular to the axis of said winding and respectively actuated by .the movement of said plungers, con- 50 tacts carried by said rotatable means respectively for engaging and disengaglng said fixed contacts upon movement of said rotatable means as controlled by the movement of said plungers. and means connected between said rotatable means for l locking said plungers against movement under mechanical shocks tending to move said plungers in the same direction as each other.

. GEORGE M. STAPLETON.

nEFERENcEs CITED The following references are ot record in the' ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 85 Number Name Date 820,119 Kitt May 8, 1906 856,085 McNally June 4, 1997 880,617 Bach Mar. 3, 1908 1,155,157 Lewis Sept. 28, 1915 1,668,925 Schirmer May 8. 1928 2,336,871 Lake Dec. 14, 1943 2,348,021 Oppel May 2, 1944 2,353,377 Vaughn July 11, 1944 2,392,134 Elmendorf Jan. 1, 1948 2,395,683 Runge Feb. 28, 1948 

